Grayson highlands is a very special area, unique in the south. Trail ran to summit from Wilburn ridge. Beautiful views of ponies, balds, rock crags, and distant mountains from highlands. Actual summit is covered in dense, beautiful spruce/fir forest so nothing to see on top.

Very different than your standard Appalachian Hiking. the openess of the meadows with the rock outcroppings is remeniscent of points further west. Its also one of the few Southern Highpoints you actually have to hike to get to, so it has a rare wilderness feel.

Highpoint #25; halfway there!!! Fifth stop in our attempt to bag GA-SC-NC-TN-VA-KY in a day. Started the hike in late afternoon / early evening. Surprised at how far we had to go around the mountain, actually losing elevation, before finding the spur trail to the summit. Several people we met along the way had given up. Descended via headlamp.

Wow! What a spectacular hike. Yeah there's no views on summit, but the whole hike there is great views! Even saw the wild ponies at the very end of the day. If you haven't been to Mt. Rogers, go there. Now!

Up 2 weeks ago with my 8 yo son his 2nd state HP. A great winter hike from any TH. Can be very windy in open
(experienced -40 WC in winter), deep snow in woods (2+ feet) on AT, take snowshoes. Easy bushwhack off back side to Deep Gap

This hike is different than many on the east coast because it offers so much variety. In one of the many open meadows on the way to the "treed" summit were we encounter the famed wild ponies that roam these hills. They were extremly docile and there must have been at least 40 of them. The views on the way to the summit were nice but obstructed at the top.

Route Climbed: AT from Elk Garden Date Climbed: August 26, 1991 and three times since

This is one of my favorite areas in the Eastern U.S. Wandering in the high, open meadows is a true delight. I've hiked in every season and seen every type of weather including a freaky winter thunder/lightning/snow storm in February 1992.

My wife's 1st backpacking trip and my 1st hightpoint of a state. We were unaware that this highpoint was here until we past the sign for it. We were backpacking the AT with 4 teens from my youth group. That night right below the summit on the bald knob that is most pictured as Mt. Rogers a major storm rolled in. We were holed up in tents all night while lightning flashed all around us. The lightning was so frequent that from inside the tent it seemed like a fire was flickering right outside the tent. The Lord protected us and no one was injured. The morning unveiled a canopy of fog, sunlight and nature. It was beautiful. God is so good.

We barely beat the rain, but it was a really great hike. There isn't a view at the summit, as its enclosed by forest, but it's still a super way to spend a Sunday. The folks in Damascus are the salt of the Earth!